Abstract—As a number of studies show the potential of
mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in the classroom,
most have been conducted by using smartphone applications as
a platform to freely communicate or share information among
peers. However, other than functioning as social support media
in the classroom, smartphone applications might be able to play
a more multi-functional role. With this attempt, the researcher
aims to explore two domains. One is to challenge the diversity of
class activity design and its feasibility while integrating
smartphone applications such as LINE into a class agenda.
Learning English as a foreign language (EFL) was main subject
of the experiment. Fifteen different activities designed by the
researcher were implemented to offer EFL learners more
opportunities to strengthen their language skills. Investigations
of the effects were carried out by questionnaires and interviews.
The other research goal is to inspect the educational
implications emerging from this mobile application pedagogy.
Roles of smartphone applications, particularly in big-sized
classes, and their impacts on the teacher and learners are
considered. Furthermore, the elements underpinning a
satisfying MALL learning process are discussed and a design
model for MALL classroom is also initiated.
Index Terms—Class activity design, design models, English
as a foreign language (EFL), mobile-assisted language learning
(MALL), smartphone applications.
Yiching Chen is with Takming University of Science and Technology,
Taipei, Taiwan (e-mail: ycac@takming.edu.tw).
Cite: Yiching Chen, "The Explorations and Implications of EFL Class Activity Design via Smartphone Applications," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 900-904, 2017.